Pen-rack.



Patented Jan. 30, I900.

J. ADAIR.

PEN BACK.

(Application filed. June 18, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet lv (No Model.)

Patented Jan. 30, I900.-

J. ADAIR.

PEN RACK.

(Application filed. June 13, 1899.)

(Ho Model.)

2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

FIRE.

FIGS- FHlJ- FIG] TTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ADAIR, OF LEET, PENNSYLVANIA.

PEN-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,278, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed June 13, 1899.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES ADAIR, acitizen of the United States, residing at Leet, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Pen-Racks, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain further or additionalimprovements in the form or construction of pen-racks shown and described in applications, Serial Nos. 720,375 and 720,376, filed of even date herewith; and the improvements have for their object, generally stated, the uniform arrangement or distribution of the coils or fingers along the supporting block or base and their maintenance in such positions.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a pen-rack embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are views, respectively similar to Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating a modification of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 5 and 7 are sectional elevations illustrating further modifications. Figs. 6 and 8 are end elevations of the constructions shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

The fingers 1 of the rack are formed by suitably coiling a length of wire around a mandrel. The series of fingers or coils thus formed are supported on a block or base 2, having a V-shaped groove 3 formed along its upper face. This V-shaped seat or groove affords two points of bearing for each coil and will permit without change of the size of the base or the ll-shaped groove of the use of different sizes of coils, thereby holding the fingers from a rocking motion on the base. The fingers or coils are held upon the base by a clamping-bar 4., which passes through the coils or fingers and is detachabiy connected to the base by hooks 5, formed on its ends, and adapted to engage recesses 6, formed in the ends of the base-block.

The V- shaped groove in the base-block permits of the use of coils varying in diameter on the same base; but as said coils would have different positions in the groove, dependent on the diameter of the coils, provision should be made whereby the different $erial No. 720,377. (No model.)

sizes of coils may beheld firmly in the groove. The clamping of the coils in position can be effected by using clamping-bars with difierent lengths of hooks; but as this would require different bars with each change in the size of coils it is preferred to provide a bar which can be employed wit-h all sizes of coils.

A convenient manner of providing What might be termed a universal clamping-bar consists in making the hooks of the bar adjustable toward and from the body of the bar. This adjustability can be effected in many ways-as,for example, by making backand-forth folds in portions of the bar connecting the hooks 5 with the body portion 4, as shown in Figs. 7 and S. This construction permits of extension and contraction of such connecting portion, as may be required.

In order to insure a uniform distribution of the fingers or coils on the base and their return to such positions when displaced, the clamping-bar is provided with a series of downwardly-projecting portions 7, adapted to project between adjacent fingers. As portions of the fingers are held by these portions 7 of the clamping-bar as against material lateral movement,the resilient fingers will return to normal position on the removal of an article from between them. These projecting portions or holding-teeth may be formed by coiling the body portion of the clamp so as to form open coils, as shown, or by bending the body portion back and forth in zigzag fashion. It will be readily understood that if a bar so coiled or bent be placed on the fingers 1 portions of such bar will pass between the fingers and hold the same from material lateral movement.

As shown in Figs. 3 andd, the teeth on the clamping-bar may be formed by a series of disks 7, secured at suitable intervals on the bar.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the clamping-bar is separable from the coils and can be readily withdrawn therefrom.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the fingers and clamping-bar are formed of a single piece of wire, the portions at each end of the series of fingers or coils being bent to form the hooks 5 and then bent back into the coils or fingers. The two parts 4 of the clamping bar thus formed are secured together by a sleeve or coupling 8. In this construction the distributing or holding teeth 7 are formed by bending the adjacent ends of the two-part clamping-bar outwardly.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the clampingbar and fingers may be held together by passing the wire ends 9 of the fingers in through the coils of the clamping-bar after the latter has been placed in position in the fingers, such ends passing below the fingers 1 of the rack.

It is preferred to construct the hook 5 in the form of an eye, as shown in Figs 1 and 3, and to secure a disk 10 to said eyes. These disks form a convenient means for Withdrawing the hooks from the recesses in the block or base.

The bases of pen-racks have heretofore been formed with an oblong slot or opening in which are seated the'coils forming the fingers of the rack, the side walls of such slot forming the bearings for the coils. It is apparent that with such a base there could be only slight variation in the diameters of the coils used therewith. By the use of a V-shaped groove in the base coils varying greatly in diameter would have equally good bearings on the inclined walls of the groove, and such a base, with suitable fastening devices for attaching the coils, I believe to be new, and hence as regards this feature of my improve1nentthat is, the base with V-shaped grooveI do not limit myself to any specific form or construction of means for securing the coils onto the base, provided only that they be suitable for the purpose.

I claim herein as my invention-- 1. -A block or base for pen-racks provided with a groove having inclined inwardly-converging walls whereby the base is adapted to support coils varying in diameter and having means whereby the coils may be attached to the block or base, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pen-rack, a base-block provided with a groove having inclined inwardly-converging walls, whereby the base is adapted to support coils varying in diameter in combination with a series of coils arranged in said groove and means whereby varying or block, a series of coils arranged on the block, and a clamping-bar separable from the coils and provided with projecting portions adapted to pass between adjacent fingers, and having its ends connected to the block, substantially as set forth.

5. In a pen-rack, the combination of a base or block, a series of coils arranged on the base or block, a clamping-bar separable from the coils and having its body portion bent to form projecting portions adapted to project between adjacent coils and having its ends connected to the base, substantially as set forth.

6. In a pen-rack, the combination of a base or block, a series of coils arranged in the base or block and a clamping-bar having a coiled body portion, portions of the coils thereof projecting between the fingers, the fingers and clamping-bar being locked together by portions of the fingers projecting into the coils of the clamping-bar, suhstan= tially as set forth.

'7. In a pen-rack, the combination of a base or block, a series of coils arranged on the base or block, a clamping-bar provided with hooks adapted to engage recesses in the ends of the block, and disks or plates connected to the hooks, said plates or disks forming handles for the withdrawal of the hooks substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES ADAIRL Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, F. E. GAITHER. 

